I looked over at the omen's corpse. The fight, while long, wasn't particurly difficult. The omen was strong and tanky, but ultimately slow and cumbersome. I was expecting a tough fight, but I suppose this is what happens when you over-level for an area. It might also be what happens when you use a longbow and stay out of range.

  "??! ?????! ??????! ????????! ??!"(???)

  I activated the lift side chamber site of grace and found another painting. I then killed some more storm hawks and a troll on my way through the castle, my longbow being a very useful weapon for killing everything quickly. I also came across a room, within was a woman, standing over a dead banished knight. Nepheli Loux, descendant of Horah Loux, chieftain of the badnds, and adopted daughter of Gideon Ofnir. She is a talented and honorable warrior.

  "Be proud. You were a fine warrior. Your only mistake was your choice of master. Let the winds lift you, to a higher pce."(Nepheli)

  I approached her.

  "Well, who do we have here? Tarnished, are you? Clearly not one of Godrick's lot. I am Nepheli Loux... Tarnished and warrior, like you. I'm here by decree of my father. How utterly repelnt this is... This "grafting" of Godrick's ill befits a Lord. He's tainted the very winds."(Nepheli)

  Nepheli turned aside and grimaced as she spoke. Clear hatred and disdain for Godrick in her voice.

  "If you intend to challenge Godrick, I ask you call upon me. The winds run could with his deeds. I'm certain father would permit me aid the fight."(Nepheli)

  Nepheli nodded, then she turned back to the dead knight.

  "Apologies, but I've idled long enough. As fellow Tarnished, we must each follow our own guidance. Down whatever road takes us to the throne of Elden Lord."(Nepheli)

  I also nodded and then turned and left. I continued on to the secluded cell and then passed the fog wall that led to Godrick and instead made my way to the other doorway across the hall. On my way up the damaged ramp, I killed a scarab and obtained the storm caller ash of war. Putting the scroll in my inventory I killed the various jars atop the ramp and obtained two more cracked pots for crafting.

  I then parkoured across some ledges and windowsills until I happened upon a balcony on the outer wall of the castle overlooking the Chapel of Anticipation. To the right, I could even see the moonlit pteau. I found a message on the ground, written by Rogier.

  [Surely what you seek is somewhere close by...]

  I began parkouring down several ledges until I dropped onto another balcony. Walking through the nearby room and across the top of a wall until I reached a door, one which opened into the lift side chamber. I then turned and parkoured down to a room where I killed a bunch of bats and I then parkoured down further until I made my way to the ground.

  The castle down here was dark and filled with fog. Despite being the middle of the day, this area felt creepy in a way that only a silent mountain path at night could feel. Every sound echoed with volume beyond what was normal, and every shadow stretched rger and further than expected. It was as if I had walked into a horror movie.

  I proceeded onwards, my determination bolstered by the knowledge that no matter what happens to me, any death I experience will not be permanent. I will respawn back at whatever site of grace I had just touched. The only danger is in the pain involved, not the consequences.

  That reminds me... Why does this dream simute pain? Is it because I'm aware, that I subconsciously recognize that certain things should hurt?

  ...

  Maybe? Whatever... Gotta focus.

  I quickly dispatched the giant rats nearby, as well as the super-giant rat that followed behind the normal giant rats. I also spotted a scarab and upon killing it I obtain a spell scroll. Rancorcall. I soon approached a rge, open area, with numerous corpses littering the ground. I knew that this was the arena for the Lesser Ulcerated Tree Spirit. Supposedly a weaker version of the boss from the Fringfolk Hero's Grave. I prepared some fire pots, fire arrows, and fire grease. I readied Oleg's ashes and dropped down into the arena.

  I quickly summoned Oleg and as the Lesser Spirit emerged from the ground, I threw a fire pot.

  The battle was a tense back and forth. I used all eight of my fire pots and two whole chunks of fire grease. Oleg did an excellent job of taking attention away from me and my fire did a lot of extra damage to the Lesser Spirit. Despite my preparations the Lesser Ulcerated Tree Spirit was still fully capable of smashing me around. I was so happy that I had the shield since most of the attacks only bashed my shield. That said, I only won after Oleg was killed.

  I proceeded through the archway and came across a massive face. It looked like a bizarre mix of human and octopus, with tree roots covered in thorns growing out from it. The face itself appeared to be growing from a massive root that has pierced through the wall behind it. I saw a silver light gathering around something held by a nearby corpse. I obtained a disgusting looking mass of grey flesh and thorns oozing pus. The Prince of Death's Pustule talisman. It raises my vitality which is useful for protecting against death blight.

  I then turned to the rope dder behind me. I climbed up to a room that led to a pce above another room that led back to the main hall. I used a lift in an adjacent room to the main hall to go back up to the rampart tower. From here, I decided to go up the tower rather than going to the top of the wall that leads to the church-like structure where I met Rogier.

  I spent my time parkouring over the gold and marble roofs and towers around Castle Stormveil. I found a ton of eagles and the Cw talisman. I also found a bunch of smithing stones and arrows. Finally, my longbow was super-over-powered. I strongly considered spending my smithing stones on the bow rather than on my sword.

  Eventually though, I explored every inch of this castle. So, I teleported to the secluded cell and prepared myself for the battle with Godrick the Grafted.

  Time to get a Great Rune!

  "??????! ????????????????! ??????????!"(???)